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Published
May 8, 2018
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Reborn BHS sees sales rise due to start-up mentality

Published
May 8, 2018

A start-up outlook is yielding results for the reborn BHS, according to reports, with the largely online business seeing a sales leap in its latest six-month period.


BHS



After launching with a mainly homewares-focused offer, it has since added clothing and said that women’s sleepwear in particular helped drive its sales up by as much as 23% in the period to April 23.

The company told The Times that gross profit had also "gone from strength to strength,” rising by 69%, although it didn't give specific sales and profit numbers.

The new BHS was born in September 2016 after the venerable British value department store chain had collapsed earlier that summer. That led to the loss of 11,000 jobs, left large empty sites on many high streets and in shopping centres, and resulted in legal action against its then owner that has dragged on ever since.

But as a result of the administration filing, the BHS name, websites and international franchise operation were acquired by the Al Mana Group of Qatar, which has been quietly building the business.

Website managing director Kev Mallinder said that the past six months have seen higher visitor numbers and the conversion rate has improved. Women’s sleepwear has been a “standout” area with a 60% sales increase. 

And the company has also boosted its gross margin by adjusting its product mix and improving efficiency in areas such as warehousing. Mallinder told The Times that “our start-up spirit has really helped us to continue to grow.”

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